WREXHAM player-manager Andy Morrell admits he is finding it difficult to attract new faces in the face of competition from other clubs that have more financial clout.

WREXHAM player-manager Andy Morrell admits he is finding it difficult to attract new faces in the face of competition from other clubs that have more financial clout.

The Dragons’ boss, who has signed midfielder Kevin Thornton on non-contract terms, also wants to improve his defensive and attacking options in order to keep pace with promotion rivals such as Luton Town and Grimsby Town who have already added to their ranks since the January window opened.

But, speaking ahead of tonight’s league match at Alfreton Town, Morrell said: “It’s difficult because there are teams out there that can throw more money at it than us, so if any players come up that we like other teams like them as well. But we are trying, we have put phone calls into a few people to try and push things along.”

Wrexham have yet to make a decision on the future of Swansea full-back Danny Alfei, who has been at the Racecourse on a three-month loan that has now been extended by the maximum 18 days allowed.

“It gives us a bit more time to have a think and gives him a bit of time to decide what he wants to do,” added Morrell.

“We want to see how he’s done after all the games we’ve played over Christmas and he’s done well in the last couple of them. I think he’s a bit fitter than he was and coming out of that sort of football into this sort is an eye-opener, even though he’s done it before. It still takes time to adjust and he’s doing OK so far.”

Alfei looks certain to retain his place for Wrexham at Alfreton as they bid to extend their unbeaten run to five games, with midfielder Jay Harris also expected to start despite picking up a foot injury during last Friday’s 1-1 draw with Newport County at Rodney Parade.

“It’s a case of same again,” said the Dragons’ boss. “Watching it back (the Newport game) I thought we did OK, I thought we had the better parts of the game on a tricky pitch and we gave as good as we got.”

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